Jesse Jackson on Hugo Chavez: ‘Democracies evolve’

The Rev. Jesse Jackson, who offered a prayer at the funeral of former Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, on Friday jabbed America’s “first 15 presidents” when asked about his message to those who considered Chávez a “vile dictator.”

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“I just want to be precise,” Blitzer said in a follow-up question. He continued, “Are you really comparing Hugo Cháez to George Washington or Thomas Jefferson or James Madison? That’s what I was hearing. But I want you to explain.”

Jackson, who leads a Chicago-based social justice organization and is the father of former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.), didn’t walk back the comment.

“Well, democracies evolve,” Jackson said, speaking from Caracas, Venezuela. “My point is that our first 15 presidents owned slaves and called it democracy for [about 200] years. We’ve come a mighty long way.”

He called for engagement with the new Venezuelan government, adding that there are trade opportunities with the oil-rich country and that Venezuela could serve as an ally in fighting the drug-trafficking war.

“So democracies evolve and if we’re engaged, we can help it evolve in the right direction,” Jackson said.